Family is the greatest!

My first week at Willard Elementary preparing for the start of the school year has been very exciting. However, I thought I would take the opportunity to come back to Tumwater for a few days to spend time with my grandma. She has moved from the hospital to a rehab center which is absolutely amazing progress from where she was 2 weeks ago. Today I am sitting by her bedside watching her take a little afternoon nap. This whole experience has shown me how important family is. Since my grandma's first day in the hospital, different family members have been taking 5 hour shifts spending time with her in her room and making sure there is always someone to keep her company. My grandma has given so much to our family and it is now our turn to be there for her.

Spending all this time with my family has really made me appreciate my mom, dad and sister. My dad and I have had some great quality father-daughter time together. We got to go on a kayaking adventure in the Puget Sound, we ran a 10k race together which I wouldn't have completed without his encouragement and we also enjoyed some hiking in California together. I really enjoy the ability to have these adventures together and I look forward to many more in the future! He pushes me to always be the best that I can be :)

My mom and I have had a great time talking about teaching now that I am beginning in my 2nd grade classroom. It has been so special to share with her all that I have learned. I have always looked up to my mom and the wonderful teacher that she is and I am looking forward to the wonderful support and advice she will be able to offer me this year. Since being home it has been a humbling experience to see how supportive she is to grammy and all the time that she has spent with her by her hospital bed. My mom is a prime example of putting family first...I am so lucky that she is my mom.

It has also been such a blessing to spend more time with Liana. That girl keeps me entertained for sure...whether she is performing the stanky leg or the jerk or discussing plans to be a 'balloon animal maker', she is always bringing a smile to my face. It makes me so happy to watch her blossom into a young adult (now that she is 17) and see all that she is capable of. Liana is a spitfire and she is not afraid to be who she truly is which is a very admirable quality! With everything our family has been through the past couple weeks, it has reminded me that Liana and I will have each other for the rest of our lives. Sisters are truly a blessing and I couldn't ask for a more special and wonderful little sis :)

So while being in Spokane immersed in my busy life as a graduate student...and enjoying weekends with my friends, it is important not to forget what life is about and that family is truly the center of it all.

August 25th 2010....

Four years ago I was making my first official trip over the mountains to Spokane, WA in anticipation for my first year as a college student at Whitworth...


I'll never forget my first day meeting Emily McGrady-Beach, my roommate. Before getting to Whitworth, I stopped at the Francis Starbucks to change my clothes so I looked halfway decent. However, there was Emily in our dorm room wearing a cut off and basketball shorts :) A life-long friendship began that first day...never would I expect that we would have to say goodbye to each other...

Emily and I downtown Spokane during our "Intro to Public Transport" hall activity

Freshman Year, September 2006

Do you girls remember MOCK ROCK and our dance performance...or Yell Off and all the BJ cheers we learned? What about 'wooing?' where we had the chance to scope out all the hott freshman boys! There was also the Fancy Feast, birdy and perch, cutting off our fears in the Chapel...

B2E: Baldwin 2nd East

Well, I am still a Whitworth student however, a Master's student just doesn't have the same feel as an undergrad. I mean, I can no longer attend and take part in Mock Rock or Yell Off....there is no more streaking around campus or moving into dorm rooms...no more meals in Saga or walks in the back forty...Yes, I will still be on Whitworth attending my Master's classes but I will no longer know or recognize everyone I see. Most of all, my best friends will not be walking around campus with me :(



However, there is nothing to do than be excited for the new phase of my life that has begun. I have spent 3 days in my 2nd grade classroom at Willard Elementary helping my mentor teacher get ready for the students to arrive. While I was dreading going back so early, it has actually been quite enjoyable getting back into the groove. Plus, I have been able to do what I love best: setting up a classroom and cutting out lots and lots of laminated things :) There is no doubt that this fall semester is probably going to be the busiest but I am looking forward to a challenge!

hmm....where will I be August 25th, 2014?

GAGAUGUST = Sucess!

With everything going on with the family, I found myself very excited for GagAugust weekend as a way to 'escape' reality, let loose and have fun! Jimmy, Keith and Ebay arrived in TumH20 Friday night...let the festivities begin! We began by searching through the woods for smores sticks (the boys were scared), roasting marshmallows, ALMOST getting in a car accident although I promise that I DID NOT SEE ANY CARS COMING (the new Ford Invisible just came out), watched a movie called The Crazies which resulted in the 4 of us snuggled up on the couch together. The evening concluded with star-gazing in the field (although the boys kept freaking out about bugs and Petrov the dog) camping out in the yard, Jimmy's snores, Keith's pillow talk and Ebay sneaking out of the tent and sleeping in my bed....and that was only Friday night!

Saturday began with breakfast, coffee and a trip to downtown Olympia for the Pet Parade. The 81st parade was a success of course and was deeply enjoyed by Ebay and the boys. On our way to the Capital, Keith got sidetracked and we had to stop at a Bike store...typical. However, we made if to the Capital building, successfully did some yoga and guacamole on the fronts steps, explained our plan to put Mercedes in the pet parade next year, toured the building...and then left! We hit up Value Village on the way home for our GAGA outfits, watched Talledega Nights then got ready for the big night!

We drove up to the Tacoma Dome (even got massages on the way up), walked around downtown, had our picture taken by millions of fans, sang GAGA songs with fellow concert goers, helped direct Lindsay to our parking lot, squished onto the LINK that would take us to the Tacoma Dome, safely made it inside the Dome for the concert and then enjoyed 2 hours of absolute INSANITY AND CRAZINESS...totally work the $65 ticket. Lady Gaga told us to be free and LOVE EVERYONE just like Jesus :) After laying in the field, the 5 of us crashed in the tent for a good nights' rest!

Sunday morning we enjoyed some time with my parents at the house before we went on our way. Lindsay headed down to Portland for some camping and Jimmy had his LONG drive back to Edmonds. Keith, Ebay and I set off for Spokane. We made some fun stops along the way including Lake Kachess where we decided it was only appropriate to swim in the mountain lake...it was totally worth it! We also stopped at the wild horse monument, experienced a very steep hike and 50mph winds but enjoyed the wonderful view at the top! Keith told me to roast a marshmallow using the car heater...so after 20 minutes of the heat on full blast, we enjoyed a smore in the car! George, WA would have been a better stop if Keith didn't drive past the sign I wanted a picture in front of...better luck next time! And of course, we had to stop for ice cream cones at McDonalds. 8 hours later...we safely made it back to R apartment.

The end. See facebook for pictures.

Well, it is official: I can not fall asleep! So instead of counting sheep, I decided to get updated by reading everyone's blogs which I have not had time to do in the past week! Although, I realized that I haven't been the only one slacking on blogs so I chose to update mine :)

First off, thank you to everyone who has been keeping grammy in your thoughts and prayers. Miraculously she can now open her eyes, turn her head to whoever is talking, squeeze your hand and respond by shaking her head yes and no. This is tremendous progress, especially so late after the surgery. This has been an extreme testament of my faith and a reminder to never underestimate the power of God in any situation and that he is capable of absolutely anything. No matter what happens, I know that my grandma will be taken care of by God (she is one of his angels :) ). With all the hurt, fear and sadness I am experiencing, thinking about eternal life brings peace to my mind.

My grandma with my sister and I :)

On another note, I am looking forward to a fun-filled GAGA weekend with friends! There is so much to look forward to: smores, camping, the Pet Parade, a tour of the Olympia Capital, spending time with friends and most importantly, the LADY GAGA CONCERT! It will be a nice way to end the summer given the fact that I am supposed to start school on August 23rd.

Meanwhile, I miss everyone so much. I feel like I miss out on so much of your lives when we don't get to talk or see each other every day! I wish we could just hit a life pause button and then we could all meet up and catch up! Time is obviously precious and I am just so happy that our friendships are continuing to deepen. I love you all.

Oh and San Diego was wonderful. We only were there 3 days before we had to fly back home unexpectedly but we spent a whole lot of time at the beach which is what we needed!

Also, I started attending yoga classes at the Valley since I have been home...some NAMASTE has been very helpful.

PS: You all know how I always get chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles...well that all began back when grammy started picking me up from school! She would pick me up once a week and take me to "BASKETS and Robins" and I would get chocolate with rainbow sprinkles...she always got pralines n' cream in a sugar cone :) When she wakes up, that is the first place I am taking her!

Home sweet home!

Now that I am officially on summer break I have made the much needed trip over the mountains to good ole' Tumwater, WA. I set off on the 1-90 drive Wednesday at 3, stopped in Moses Lake for a yummy Vanilla Latte (no mocha!!) and trekked through the beautiful mountain range and made it to TumH20 in exactly 5 hours! I was happily greeted by my mom, sister and dad in the driveway :) Within 10 minutes of being home, I took off for my half-marathon training run...and was quickly reminded that I live by cow manure pastures. As we said in high school, "if we can run through this smell, we can run through anything." However, I did appreciate the ability to run without having to stop at any intersections because I was out in the country :)

My first day home was quite the day! My best friend Jackie came over to my house in the morning and we prepared for our kayaking adventure on the Puget Sound. Our first stop was Starbucks of course for our morning coffee, and then we took off to the Boston Harbor marina and rented a double-kayak for a couple hours! The kayaking trip was quite relaxing...we came to like the "paddle 6 or 7 strokes, and then float" method. We made friends with seals and porpoises (mini dolphins) and searched for starfish, crabs and jellyfish! As usual I collected some shells on the beach...and Jackie wrote in the sand! After our successful kayaking trip, we headed to downtown Oly and went to the Farmers Market! We enjoyed lot's of free samples...I was a little disappointed they did not have asparagus for sale but Jackie walked away with some blueberries and peaches. Upon leaving the Farmer's Market, we used our "treat receipt" from Starbucks and got our second fixing of coffee for the day! We explored some wonderful stores in downtown Oly including Orca Books, a scrapbook store and even a vintage costume shop! Oh how I love Olympia :)

The coming days will also be filled with lot's of adventure! Tomorrow, my dad and I are embarking on another kayaking trip....probably more intense then the relaxing one I had today! Saturday we are also doing a 10k in Vancouver, WA...and then Sunday the McCann-Holcomb family is taking off for SAN DIEGO,CA for a family get-away :)

CONGRATS CLAIRE FOR GETTING A JOB! I am so proud!
Miss you girls in Spokane...keep holding down R apartment Ebay, Em have a great time in Seattle and Joanna, pick up the espresso machine :)
Dani, hope all is well in Visalia, CA
Ande, have a great hike with Ashley this weekend!
Lindsay, have fun crabbing with Em :)

What a weekend!

When I got out of my last class of the summer term at 4:00 on Friday, I hurried back to R apartment to meet Ebay and head to the Corner House. Claire, Joanna, Ebay and I took off Friday evening for a long-awaited road trip to Seattle for Lindsay's birthday! The drive over was fabulous...it included a stop at Taco Del Mar and Starbucks of course. After listening to mine and Ebay's favorite song, "We are the World", we felt inspired to make signs to hold up in our windows. One sign read, "World Peace" and the other said, "Everybody's gonna love today". Our hope was to bring simple smiles to people's faces as they passed :)

After 5 hours, Sabrina (Claire's GPS) helped us safely arrive to Lindsay's humble abode in Burien, Wa...an eclectic house situated right on the Puget Sound. Not surprisingly, we had a loud welcoming that involved a GAGA 'RA RA' huddle in the middle of the road. Typical of the Corner House. After settling in and catching up, we got some rest before the weekend festivities began!


Saturday morning we took off for a hike at Wallace Falls State Park, located in the middle of nowhere (passed Sultan and Startup, WA). The hike was beautifully situated in the mountains and had the most scenic views. As usual we had our goofy, girly conservations but also found peace in the wilderness and sat on a ledge with the most breathtaking view. Feeling God's presence around us we had a wonderful talk about God and his greatness.

The hike ended at some waterfalls where we ventured down to the rocks and played around! So fun! After the 5 mile hike, we headed back towards the city, stopping for $1 cherry baskets along the way and at Alpen Drive In for some good ole hamburgers and fries! We also stopped at this little chapel situated on the side of the road. It seemed to be a place for passersby to stop, pause and worship the Lord...so cute :)
Once back in the city, Ande showed us around Edmonds, her Aglow International office and her house. It was so special being able to see her temporary home! The evening with the girls concluded with a lively meal at Thai's Corner and a bonfire on the Puget Sound full of smores and wine. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSAY!

Sunday morning we had the blessing of attending Lindsay's church in Burien called Taproot. It was a small but happening service with amazing worship and an awesome word. WE LOVED IT! After church, Joanna, Claire, Ebay and I headed back to the East. Driving into Spokane we experienced less appreciation for our World Peace sign (some man shook is head and said, it's never gonna happen). He definitely smashed our young, optimistic outlook! However, he smiled and gave us a thumbs-up for our, "Everybody's gonna love today" sign :) Overall the weekend was amazing! Looking forward to Tumwater in a few days :)